Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

Finally, some good news on The Daily Briefing: Former hostage Matan Zangauker and his girlfriend, former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, have become engaged, according to a photo posted by Matan’s mother Einav.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Florida, where he is set to meet with US President Donald Trump for an unprecedented sixth time in less than a year. We hear what’s on the schedule for today, who else may be in the room and what's on the table.

Somaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own money, passports and army. But it has been diplomatically isolated since its unilateral declaration of independence. On Friday, Netanyahu made headlines by announcing Israel's recognition of the country. Why has Israel basically put Somaliland on the map now and what has been the backlash so far?

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

Former hostages Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky become engaged

In the US, Netanyahu aims to convince Trump that only threat of war can bring peace

Hezbollah leader says Lebanese efforts to disarm group ‘not in country’s interest’

Iran’s president says country in midst of ‘total war’ with US, Israel and Europe

UN Security Council to convene emergency meeting on Israel’s Somaliland recognition

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves and Ari Schlacht.

IMAGE: President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate, July 26, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/jacob-magid/">US bureau chief Jacob Magid</a> joins&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/writers/amanda-borschel-dan/">host Amanda Borschel-Dan</a>&nbsp;for today's episode.
Finally, some good news on The Daily Briefing: Former hostage Matan Zangauker and his girlfriend, former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, have become engaged, according to a photo posted by Matan&rsquo;s mother Einav.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Florida, where he is set to meet with US President Donald Trump for an unprecedented sixth time in less than a year. We hear what&rsquo;s on the schedule for today, who else may be in the room and what's on the table.
Somaliland enjoys a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden and has its own money, passports and army. But it has been diplomatically isolated since its unilateral declaration of independence. On Friday, Netanyahu made headlines by announcing Israel's recognition of the country. Why has Israel basically put Somaliland on the map now and what has been the backlash so far?
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-december-29-2025/">Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.</a>
For further reading:
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/former-hostages-matan-zangauker-and-ilana-gritzewsky-become-engaged/">Former hostages Matan Zangauker and Ilana Gritzewsky become engaged</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-us-netanyahu-aims-to-convince-trump-that-only-threat-of-war-can-bring-peace/">In the US, Netanyahu aims to convince Trump that only threat of war can bring peace</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-leader-says-lebanese-efforts-to-disarm-group-not-in-countrys-interest/">Hezbollah leader says Lebanese efforts to disarm group &lsquo;not in country&rsquo;s interest&rsquo;</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-president-says-country-in-midst-of-total-war-with-us-israel-and-europe/?utm_campaign=most_popular&amp;utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=article_end&amp;utm_content=1">Iran&rsquo;s president says country in midst of &lsquo;total war&rsquo; with US, Israel and Europe</a>
<a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-security-council-to-convene-emergency-meeting-on-israels-somaliland-recognition/?utm_source=The+Daily+Edition&amp;utm_campaign=daily-edition-2025-12-28&amp;utm_medium=email">UN Security Council to convene emergency meeting on Israel&rsquo;s Somaliland recognition</a>
Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-times-of-israel-daily-briefing/id1547404042"> Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1vhvFPvN0fFn5YRHCEcxrn">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnR6FOcOvFdMbb0w1n0Ev0orcVkufgZ89">YouTube,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves and Ari Schlacht.
IMAGE: President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate, July 26, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what’s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Welcome to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing: Your update on what&rsquo;s important in Israel, the Middle East and The Jewish World.

Advertisement